A new tranche of alleygates has been installed in Micklegate ward and been welcomed by local councillors.

Micklegate councillors have been campaigning for a number of years to ensure back alleys in the ward are gated where this would improve security and prevent access to non-residents.

Coun. Dave Merrett said:

"These gates have been a long time coming so I'm pleased that more residents can now enjoy safer, more secure neighbourhoods.

"Alleygates in other parts of Micklegate ward as well as other areas of the city have proven to have a positive impact in driving down levels of acquisitive crime.

"It's an absolute shame that the Lib Dem Council does not provide central capital funding for such a successful scheme - leaving it to ward Councillors to lever in funding from elsewhere. "

Fellow councillor Sandy Fraser commented:

"The delay in getting alleygates across the ward stems from a lack of funding for gating schemes by the current Lib Dem council. The funds for supplying the gates have always had to be found from Safer York Partnership, through Home Office funding, but what's important once they are in is it's equally important that they are properly maintained.

"Examples elsewhere in the city suggest that maintenance has not always been carried out where needed, and that is the last thing we want to see with these new schemes. Clearly, Lib Dem manifesto promises to support alleygating have been nothing more than empty promises".

The new gates have been introduced to alleys at the following streets:

· Kensington/Montague Streets
· Lower Ebor Street
· Knavesmire Crescent
· Ruby/Hubert Streets
· Scarcroft Hill
· Scarcroft View
· Trafalgar/Kensington Streets